CLOSED | Rescue Planning Session

[faderifting]

FORM: Sending crystal
SENDER: IDK, whoever posts first
RECIPIENT: Team 1: Benedict, Colin, Coupe, Malcolm, Nikos, Six, Yseult
WHAT: The team tasked with extracting the prisoners from Minrathous discusses how to do it
WHEN: Nowish
WHERE: In the metaphysical ether
NOTES: You can do this as a single thread or break it up into several to discuss different aspects, whatever works best. We realize that an in-person meeting might make more sense for this, but we want to focus on the conversation and move it forward as quickly as possible while also allowing everyone a chance to weigh in and brainstorm ideas, so crystal > action.

This is the team that's been chosen to go into Minrathous to get the Inquisition captives back out. The questions that need to be answered are:

• how are they getting into Minrathous?
  
• how are they getting into the Archon's palace?
  
• how are they finding the prisoners within the palace?
  
• how are they getting the prisoners out of the palace?
  
• how are they getting everyone back out of Minrathous?

These questions need to be answered by end of day EST Thursday. If the team hasn't clearly agreed on a plan of action by then we'll either make Coupe decide, since she's ICly in charge, or take the main ideas from the post and create a quick poll.

Here are some key facts that they've gathered:

• the prisoners were taken to the palace (thanks to Max for passing that news along)
  
• there is a large, fancy court event being held to honor the new Archon and (rumor has it) to invest Calpernia with a new title
  
• the catacombs extend beneath much of the island, including the palace
  
• there are ground and water patrols guarding the bridge into Minrathous and the water approach to the island, but they can't be everywhere at all times
  
• the red lyrium dragon remains sat atop the palace when it's not flying off to burninate and devour the peasantry or whatever

Resources at their disposal:

• A team of additional mages and warriors who are more than ready to smash whatever needs smashing as loudly as possible
  
• Whatever transportation, disguises, and tools they need, within reason. I.e. it's fine to assume they can get their hands on things like some Venatori robes if they want them or some basic intel, but no concocting new magical artifacts that make everyone invisible and just happen to be forgotten in an archive somewhere, or suddenly recalling a new NPC agent in the city who's Head Whatever at the palace, etc.

We're including an OOC top-level below for questions related to this planning, just to keep everything consolidated in one post. Most things are flexible (to a point) based on what sounds most fun to the group, but if you need some feedback or confirmation about something, ask there.

Comments

QUESTIONS

[faderifting]

if you have any that require mod input, put em here

[tactical_alert]

Slipping between boats might be the better option than trying up above. Harder for eyes on the ground to discern that we aren't part of the water patrol, if they even notice us. Better still if a ruckus can be caused at the bridge to put all attention up there. From there, the catacombs would be the safest bet in. And I'd surely suggest we don Venatori robes.

We don't happen to know where in the palace our comrades are being held? Those of us who were there should remember what layout we can well enough, but that's still quite a bit of ground to cover in case they haven't been placed in more traditional cells.

[exsecutus]

[ugh not more boats]

I have three Venatori robes already. Convenient.

And we-- [the Inquisition, that is] --still have the original Archon. Have him tell us where more specialized prisoners are likely to be held.

[exsecutus]

Before anyone suggests it: we should avoid infiltration of whatever is planned for the new Archon.

[swordproof]

I aided those escaping Tevinter through the catacombs. I know a little of their layout, how they work. It is a good possible entrance point.

[ Six is obviously very keen and a touch on the edge of desperate, if only because her sister is a captive. ]

If he is willing to give us that information it would be useful. We should be as quiet as we can manage to be until we are sure we have the prisoners. Will we sneak them through the catacombs if there is a distraction?

[hassaran]

Agreed, we should save the distraction for our exit. If we cause a disturbance on the way in they may increase security and make it more difficult to get out again.

It would be best if we could get someone in to assess the condition of the prisoners along with the location and its security, rather than running in blind. I don't know that we have time to develop a contact, so we could arrange a capture and sneak in a crystal.

[swordproof]

[ Six, immediately - ]

I am willing to play captive, unless someone with magic is preferable.

[tactical_alert]

Sneak in a crystal and risk not only it being removed from our would-be captive, but also give our greatest enemy a way to listen in on everything the Inquisition does openly across it? That's a rather large risk to run there.

[hassaran]

This is all a very large risk, made all the more so by our lack of information. Is there no way to deactivate a crystal from afar?

As for who might take that role, I would not say it's a question of magic so much as skill. Whoever goes must be capable of playing the part convincingly, and of escaping whatever bonds or cell they're placed in without detection to learn as much of the captives, the guards, and the location as possible, if they've a crystal, or to open the way to the others if not.

[hassaran]

Averesch, yes? Are you going to explain you reasoning?

[exsecutus]

[A grunt is his version of yes, Averesch. And trying to work out who she is, as he gives his response.]

Because I hate parties. And because it will prove a useful and secondary distraction of its own. Our attention is better focused elsewhere.

[hassaran]

You're far from home.

It can serve as a distraction even if we infiltrate it. But it's an obvious point of entry; if we can find an alternative way in that would be better. The party might be most useful as an exit.

[keenly]

Were they only taking captive people with shards?

Only asking because that would make a difference in who we can send in as one. Anyone else, they might kill on sight.

[exsecutus]

I've been farther.

[And you? He bites back the urge to ask, chooses instead to move on.]

As an exit, how. Smuggle in spare party clothes?

[hassaran]

Maybe. The easiest way to walk out would be in a crowd that's rushing to exit. If we disturb the party somehow, force them to quickly empty the palace, we could slip in among them.

[exsecutus]

[His mm sounds annoyed, but it's actually sort of appreciative.]

And a waiting boat to escort a party home. Disturbance outside would do it, do you think. Or would we need two--one within, and an assault from without. Increased confusion could be either a help or a hindrance. More difficult to control.

[hassaran]

You'd need a disturbance inside, I think, else you'd run the risk of them locking the palace down and keeping everyone within for their safety. Perhaps something else at a distance as well, for maximum confusion, but you'd want the crowd itself to insist on leaving, in case the guard hesitated to evacuate.

[swordproof]

I have been undercover before in this world. [ Not that she wants to talk about that, thanks. ] I have broken bonds before and am strong enough to use my fists if I must. [ And she is capable of knocking a man unconscious with said fists, but again, probably not something she ought to talk about. ] If shards are a matter of importance then I have one. If they are not taking people with shards then, perhaps, I would not be suited.

[exsecutus]

So we have three groups. One to get captured and brought to the same cells the current captives occupy, in order to free the captives. One to carry in whatever shit the Vints wear to honor their false fucking Archon. Both will double as the group that sets off whatever disturbance we orchestrate. And the third will create a colluded diversion on the outside. For maximum confusion.

[keenly]

What if we just made something explode inside the castle? Then we could just mingle with all the other castle staff running away.

[exsecutus]

Are you good at explosions?

[keenly]

I'm good at carrying things and going unnoticed. The bomb could be put together well before, couldn't it?

[Colin does, in fact, know someone who can make a bomb that will not go off until Colin is far away from it. So long as he can scale it back from "will destroy a city and start a war basically."]

[exsecutus]

And you would make an excellent distraction when you set it down and blew your hands off. If your hands hadn't been blown off in the corridor beforehand.

Explosives are volatile, last I checked.

[altusimperius]

This is my home, and I know people here. It would not be difficult at all to pass for one of them, because I am.

[tactical_alert]

Not necessarily. Haven't the Qunari something more stable for controlled explosions?

Or at the very least, set fire to something that will easily catch. It wouldn't be as immediate or dramatic as an explosion but should cause the same endgame.